Bates County 4-H’ers Journey West on Equine Tour

 (BUTLER, MO – August 6, 2010) - Fifty enthusiastic Missouri 4-H teens, including Bates County 4-H members Natoshia Minor and Ashley Smith, embarked upon the fourth annual University of Missouri 4-H Equine Career and Horse Industry Tour in late May, 2010. The quote from Mary Webb, “Saddle your dreams before you ride them” sums up the focus of this great opportunity for 4-H youth who hope to couple their equine passion with a career. The tour focused on the equine world in Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska beginning with a dinner at the Kansas City American Royal Event Center. Equine welfare was a common thread throughout the trip. The group met with Cloud Foundation and wild horse rescue members near Colorado Springs, meeting Pryor Mountain Mustangs, and visiting the BLM Horse Center near Elm Creek, Nebraska. Additionally, the group was privileged to meet and listen to a presentation by Dr. Temple Grandin, renowned Animal Scientist, at Colorado State University after a tour of the Equine Reproductive Center and School.

Spending two nights at the Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch near Estes Park, Colorado, was just another inside look at multiple equine related career opportunities for the 4-H youth. Western world of rodeo careers were explored at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Museum which included a visit with a professional rodeo clown. Sunday morning the youth elected to attend the worship services at the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs at the beautiful chapel, and it was also the Baccalaureate Service conducted by the Chief of USAF Chaplains, Maj. Cecil Richardson.

A visit to the third largest ranch in the world and largest breeder of quarter horses in the world gave the youth a real taste of what it means to be a working cowboy on the Haythorn Ranch in the Sand Hills of Nebraska. The tour bus actually pulled into one of the pastures when it was feeding time for the mares and babies! The 2010 tour concluded at the Pony Express Stables in St. Joseph in recognition of the 150th Anniversary of the Pony Express.
Each year, the 4-H staff and chaperones plan unique opportunities for Missouri 4-H teens to expand their equine horizons to embrace their passion with a lifelong career by exploring unique careers indigenous to specific regions. Previous tour destinations have been Missouri, Kentucky and Texas.

At the conclusion of the 2010 trip, sixteen “Trail Boss 4th year awards, were presented to members who had travelled on all four tours which completed the planned trip rotations.
4-H participants have credited their trip experiences having a significant impact upon their life decisions. Youth have reported that their career directions have been more clearly defined and many have been refined after meeting the leading experts in the equine world who have shared their personal stories and life lessons to the tour members. However, probably one of the best benefits of the trip is making new 4-H equine-minded friends and having a great time!
Thanks to the support of Ernie Rodina and Purina for trip shirts!

Plans are already in the works for the 2011 trip as it returns to the equine world of Missouri. University of Missouri Extension Staff chaperones include Debbie Davis, Dale Hunsburger, Karen Branstetter, Carol Parmenter (retired), Sue Knautz, and Marci Crosby, University of Missouri Equine Professor, advisor.

For information contact Debbie Davis, 4-H Youth Specialist, Clinton County, 101 S. Main, Plattsburg, MO 64477 ( 816-539-3765) davisdd@missouri.edu

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(submitted by Alan Mundey)